Sorry. I can’t help myself… Josh 4 Elle
If I can’t rate 3 or higher I don’t bother to post a review (it’s hard enough for indie writers!) I PM authors with my harshest criticism. Warts and all and not for public consumption but if I can’t help myself then I post review on Amazon.

Sorry. I can’t help myself…

I recently read a rather poorly edited, unbelievable story – and nearly dug my eyes out with a spoon it was that bad…Canvas is definitely NOT one of those .
It says something that I burned through this book, received as an advanced review copy with no expectation of reward, in one night. I somehow thought it was same length as Delve – but Canvas is twice as long – I have been reliably informed…so clearly the pace of this book is stonkingly good!

Chance’s latest book is far and away way better than some of the stuff being put out by other popular indie writers.

Those who follow my reviews know that I rate really hard, and I don’t pull any punches just to help ratings on the ‘Zon. If Most people rate 5 I tend to rate 4.

But not today….

I’ve been waiting a long time to hear Elle and Josh’s story and this did not disappoint.

Elle is a long time friend, almost family, to couple Janney and Josh, and even after the two split up, the three stayed best buddies. After Janney fell in love with private investigator Kyle, Josh and Elle stayed friends. But something happened and they drifted apart. Elle knows she has feelings for ‘goody-two-shoes’ Josh but feels she has too much darkness in her past to ever be good enough for him. Her angst isn’t helped by the spectre of the past still lurking in her life, waiting to reclaim her.

Josh is a different type of H. Strong and tall yes, but not a biker, or a ripped muscled hunk, or a jock although he is a painter and tattoo artist.

Between Elle and Josh there are untold, dark secrets they keep from each other, but one secret, their increasing attraction to each other, continues to heat up in the most electrifying ‘I-hate-you-but-I-can’t-stay-away-from-you kind of way.

When Elle is threatened and their love is put to the test, Josh shows his dark side to protect the woman he loves.

I had some huge sigh “I soooooo wish I was Elle” moments in this one.

And unlike other reviews I post no spoilers.

But I will post advice. Grab the box of tissues. The attention to detail in the smexy scenes is meltingly emotional, as if Chance lived Josh’s role… This was the most heartfelt story so far and although it is a standalone, there is enough in this gem to satisfy the diehard fans who have followed the lives of the other characters in previous books.

This is the first book I have read from Manda Mellett, courtesy of an ARC, and I’m glad I let this one jump the queue.
So. OK.
Hunky tattooed biker MC? Check.
Secret baby phenomenon? Check ( yes. Check. Just read the book)
BDSM Master/ slave dynamic explored? Check.
Virgin territory for H and h? Check. (yes. CHECK. Just READ the book)
Darkish read without getting too dark for the weak spirited and highly strung? Check
Machine guns, mayhem, murder, mommies and military? Check.Check.Check. Just keep checking…

What’s not to lurve here???

This is a great mix – like a peanut butter cup…or a salted caramel sundae…a lil bit sweet, a lot sharp, tied together as a gritty book, the second in the Satans Devils MC series (btw..who else’s Devils would they be? Just sayn…)

Can be read as a standalone, with only a few niggling throwbacks to the escapades of Book #1 which can be easily ignored by the thunderous pace of this gem.

Manda has Drum/Drummer’s male PoV of the H down pat, as unapologetic and frustratedly confused as any good MC Prez should be with the feelings he is having to handle. It’s a joy to follow the unfolding of this relationship in spite of the backdrop of guns, murder, torture, BEER, bikes and bikers.

But the kicker for me is Sam/Samantha, the strong, sexy, intelligent h of this tale. Just loved her sass and grit.

Great plot, some brilliant cringeworthy scenes ( I seriously read a few peeking out from between my fingers in horror/ embarrassment…)

This is a solid 4 star read

The only problem for Manda is the risk that with all the tropes and genres woven into this book, there may be nothing left to give in any future books to this series!

Which would be a pity as I’ve added Ms Mellett to my extremely small list of 1-click buy authors!
Woman, pull up a shelf and park your sweet butt (oops )…and the smexy scenes? All I can say is “strike a light! Good on yer, girl” – welcome to her library of congress…!!

Zachary, the secrets are out…
Voluntarily give this review from ARC received yesterday.

But am not biased, I’m gonna buy it As well – it’s that good.

Seriously.Good.

This is the latest in the series from Jacob Chance and whilst the plot is a slightly darker segue from his other stories it felt like it remained true to the core of the series.[ Zachary has had a f*cked up childhood, having witnessed and also suffered physical and emotional abuse of his alcoholic father. Daddy dearest’s reign of terror came to an abrupt end at the point of a police bullet but not before dad shoots Kyle (of the Quake and Quiver books) in the head.
(Read the back stories, I’ve done the links… no excuse)

Zach has held a corrosive grudge since then, wanting to punish Kyle for robbing him of the right to commit patricide (Kyle is now an ex-cop and co-owner of a detective agency with best bud Derek) .

Zach’s stalking of Kyle and his loved ones (specifically Kyle’s woman, Janey) initially got him stabbed as Kyle defended against Zach-the-Knife (well it’s not polite to stalk Janey and attack them both one night in her apartment…)

But Zach is a true Phoenix. He slips away in the chaos, fakes his ‘death’ and undeterred, vows to continue his hate cmpaign.

So, Zach’s plans for revenge eventually land him in Boston MA, where he is all geared up to unleash holy hell…

…right up until he spots Lana, the quiet, curvy red-headed tech support at the detective agency. He switches his target and graduates from hopeless stalker to intense possessive with a mission to become the best he can be for Lana.

The book cover says it all. Dark, intense, bit Dom. All alpha. But there’s a hint of the gentle soul he has buried to protect from the horror that was his childhood.

And with that new focus all.bets.are.off.

Lana is a tech and maths sauvant and has sped through the educational system as a result. Her past involves a fiancé and being jilted. But even that was done in a gasp-worthy, OMG way…So yeah.

(Even I am not putting THAT spoiler in my spoiler!!!)

For me, this is truly the best type of smexy love story:

Zach’s climb from twisted, tortured, haunted antihero to the HEA? Yep
Lana’s gentle journey with Zach leading her from insecure geek into willing submissive? Yep
Zach’s dark Dom tendencies come out to play… and get to stay? Hell yes!

The plot goes at a cracking speed.

This story is put through its paces and may feel light on content in some areas, but that is probably more due to the deadlines and limitations of indie publishing than a lack of willingness of Jacob ‘McTwisty’ Chance.

This story may genuinely have a number of very painful triggers for some readers. But never fear.
The dark scenes that there are in this book are handled with deft sensitivity that added backstory without being either stodgy or dragging out the jagged, unnecessary pain.

This was a quick read, but maybe that’s because I totally inhaled the ARC version received from the author in one ecstatic sitting.

I’m leaning back well stuffed, satisfied and replete.

Zach started out in an impossible, no-win place. This is his story, with Lana a welcome passenger on this roller-coaster ride.

He was a tatted up bad boy, indulging in one night stands like they were going out of style.

So why did I want to tear his clothes off every time we got within five feet of each other?

She was only eighteen years old when we met for the first time.

She was a good girl who avoided guys like me, but that didn’t stop me from picturing all the things I wanted to do to her-to do with her. She was too young though, and my best friend’s baby sister. I couldn’t let things go where I wanted. I couldn’t touch her-couldn’t taint her with my darkness. I knew it could never happen. It would never happen…

but it did.

Excerpt:

He’s Lucifer in the flesh with those deep brown eyes and dark-as-sin hair. My eyes move down, taking in the close-shaved beard hiding the contours of his chiseled jawline, before continuing on to his full lips. I carefully study their masculine shape. I can still remember what those lips felt like on mine; even though I’ve done everything I can to forget. I wish I could erase the memory of how he gripped the back of my hair tight in his fist and tugged me forward until our lips were just a whisper of a breath apart.

“Is this what you want?” he’d asked. I could feel his warm breath on my mouth before he’d softly brushed his lips against mine. “Do you want to see how close to the fire you can be without getting burned, little girl?”

I tried to pull away, incensed at being called little girl. I wasn’t a girl. I was a twenty-one- year-old woman; perfectly capable of knowing what I should and shouldn’t be doing. I knew which heading kissing him fell under – insanity.

He was my brother’s best friend.

He was seven years older than me.

He was a pig when it came to casual sex; indulging in one-night stands like they were going out of style.

That alone should have been enough to repulse me, but for some odd reason, it didn’t. It only made me wonder what kind of things he would do to me. I was smart enough to recognize that those three things combined were a recipe for disaster. The wreckage left over would be the pieces of my heart, and I couldn’t put myself out there for him on the off chance that he wouldn’t break me. My heart was damaged enough already.

He’d held my head in place as he’d swooped in, taking my lips in a kiss so hot I felt like I was going to burn up in flames. His tongue had plundered my mouth, punishing me for pulling away, for trying to resist him. He showed me who was in control with that kiss. He showed me I wouldn’t ever truly get away from him, and I hated him for that. I hated him for ruining other guys for me; but most of all I hated him for what he’d said when he pulled away from me.

“Stick to kissing those boys at school. Men want a woman in their arms, not a little girl.” He looked at me with such disdain, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I wanted to disappear, go someplace where his painful words couldn’t hurt me anymore. Where my memory could be wiped clean of Derek Santiago and his handsome face.

That kiss is still the hottest one I’ve ever had to this day, but I still despise him for the cruel words he callously threw at me. Those words tore me apart and made me second guess myself. It took me a long time to realize what he said wasn’t motivated by me at all. It was the result of him despising himself.

This is Book #3 in the Thinking Woman’s Smexy Read and. I.Can’t.Even…..!

I voluntarily reviewed this ARC

****Contains Spoilers****

So I really took my time with this one, the last book in the De LaCoeur trilogy.

I love, love, LOVED this series and am heartbroken it has ended!!

If you’ve read any of my previous reviews of Lauren Landish then you’ll know that I’ve become a bit of a crazed fan girl and crush like a simpering teenager over her books.

This one was no different and I have been reverently flicking through the pages, mixed emotions as I neared the end.

Melissa/ Lissa Sands is the illegitimate child from a doomed affair between her mother and the married, crooked business magnate Peter De La Coeur.

Lissa is an emotionally broken 30year old sculptor and artist, who witnessed her mother’s suicide when she was seven years old. This had a major impact on her with Melissa had retreating into an almost childlike world and a virtual recluse with no-one but her younger adopted brother and art gallery business partner, Carson for protection and company.

Jackson found his HEA (but boy did he have to work for it!) with computer hacker and all round bada$$ Katrina – see Revenge.

Andrea is loved and safe to be her submissive self in a D/s relationship with quiet but commanding Carson – see Retaliation. So what’s Lissa’s fate…..?

We join the story after Carson and Melissa have established a close relationship with the other offspring of Peter De LaCoeur, Jackson and half-sister Andrea. Katrina is now a mother with lil’ Baby Andrea (BA) and their last foray against Peter to rescue Andrea from Peter’s sociopath contract killer (which left him literally burned and scarred) could never be the last they heard of Peter.

This motley family will face his wrath again. Me, I would have packed up my sh*t and called it a day. But Peter? Him? Give up? Oh no. Not by a long shot.

Nathan Black, former fixer and sometime hitman for Peter is a semi-retired mercenary and ex-special forces hardman has now joined forces with the siblings. His sole aim is protecting the family and the pure, kind-hearted members who are under threat from Peter. His interest and love for Melissa started in ‘Retaliation’ is kept on the down-low. Nathan has blood on his hands. A lot of blood. He feels his soul is scarred and too far gone for redemption, anything he touches will just become as soiled as he feels he is.

But Lissa sees the man beneath, has grown to love him but is too afraid to declare her love.

Katrina confirms Peter is on the hunt again this time having put our a smorgasbord of contracts on their heads. Nathan spirits them away from the New Orleans suburbs to his virtually zombie/ nuclear apocalypse hideaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains after he hears who is after them….Isis Bardot (hit woman/ sniper/ psycho baddie) a former work – and bed- mate.

Lissa screws up the courage to tell Nathan how she feels but Nathan shoots her down.

Idiot.

Katrina and Andrea think he’s a big idjit as well.

Nathan is soon lured back to New Orleans to rescue Margaret De LaCoeur from her husband, who has put out a contract on her. Apparently darling hubby, Peter, has put out contracts on almost everyone… (Think Keyser Soze on crack) but it is a trap. Isis has already killed Margaret and is lying in wait at the rendezvous. Nathan narrowly escapes but is injured. This kicking upside the head seems to do the trick and he claims Melissa as his soulmate.

On a quick visit in to town Lissa is kidnapped by Isis who demands the family meet her in New Orleans. For all her crazy, Isis blocks Peter’s attempts to act out his incest cravings.

A concerted effort by Nathan, the rest of the family and some of Nathan’s ex Special Forces buddies gets them the location of Peter’s kidnap hideout and after the smoke from the blazing gun and grenade battle clears Peter and Isis are both dead…. And made food for the gators.

Nathan and Lissa have a sweet HEA, part underground part traditional and the whole group get the close family circle they’d never even dreamed possible from their start in life.

Aaaaaaw!

There’s quite a bit of violence in this book and a few triggers, but overall it feels in keeping with the tone and pace of the story. Landish has a freakish knowledge of guns, munitions , underground lifestyle and warcraft (or has done some serious research) and the story and world building for this series is only made much richer for it.

This may not be the book for everyone if you are into outlandish smexy alien/female Mars-needs-women trope style books but that’s OK. I love those as well.

I just think that books for the thinking woman that involve smart, sassy, truly hardworking, intelligent, independent, kick a$$ women in a story that reflects an ethnic diversity and criminal underworld in an unapologetic way are few and far between.

Fill yer boots with this one!

I breathed a contented sigh of relief at the end.

And then again after the Epilogue.

And then I cried a lil’ bit and got cross ‘cos the series is now over and I have to go find another series…

so if you didn’t know, I’m a newbie fan girl of Lauren Landish and I’ve been snorting her books like a crackhead let loose in a police station’s evidence lockup room (you know…furtive, gleeful and sinfully quick before I’m caught and have to explain why I’m not writing yet)

Retaliation is the second in the Revenge Bad Boy series and tells the story of Andrea, half Japanese, half white daughter of corrupt businessman Peter De LaCoeur. It also gives us glimpses of the H and h from Revenge and adds more depth to another side character Nathan. All I can say is this is a juicy, filling read. Whilst the scenes between Carson and Andrea are hot and steamy they feel right and well placed. Not in the ‘ok-it’s-time-for-some-smut-cos-it’s-chapter-4 so..she-drops-her knickers,-he grabs-her-knockers,-it’s on… kind of way

Not so much an alpha billionaire as a quiet alpha Dom millionaire with a complicated past and a loyal streak towards his family.

A continuation of the De LaCoeur saga.

Another sister emerges from the murky past of the businessman crook Peter De LaCoeur.

Andrea and Jackson meet up to fight back against their father, Peter’s attempts to have them captured or killed.

Carson Sands the H jointly owns a chain of art galleries MCS Galleries with his sister, Melissa who was traumatised by the death of her mother. Melissa is the biological daughter of Peter, is haunted by the trauma of seeing her mother’s suicide and retreats to sculpture and painting for expression and peace.

Andrea meets Carson and is drawn to his intense strength and fierce loyalty to her half-sister.

The battle to keep their feelings under control as they join with Katrina and Jackson to protect their motley crew of siblings finally erupts as Peter’s Russian contract killer attacks, wounding Nathan and kidnapping Andrea.

The book is another roller coaster of deeply detailed but truly engaging scenes as Landish paints a muted picture of the D/s relationship that ultimately develops between Carson and Andrea.

And the twists and turns of this book! I was tempted to take motion sickness pills but realised, I like it. Hell. I loved it. This is not your usual read. It’s dark but not in a foreboding way, and there are shards of light so piercing that at times I just closed the book and caught myself sighing.

I read fast. Very fast.

But I took time over Retaliation because you just have to if you want to get the full impact of the story. when Carson shoots Orlaff I am practically leaping around with glee only to scream at my eBook ‘oh no, no noooooo!’ remembering Orlaff has a blasted flack jacket on….

I thought that Revenge was a roller coaster of emotion but Retaliation??…! Well. This one takes the thinking woman’s smexy read up another notch. I have books I put in my to re-read cos you love the story and writing. Very few get on.

This one joins Revenge. without a doubt.

I can’t even…!

Another three stars from me. Lauren’s writing hit the bulls eye yet again.

And now I wait for Retribution, Nathan’s story.

I have little patience so I’m off to read ‘Revenge’ and this book again whilst I cool my heels…

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